References Who Know Your Growth Potential

References should, of course, be able to speak about your major project work from a firsthand basis. But have you ever asked your references about your areas of growth? Most people assume references will only share positive information, but in fact, 90% of such calls do include constructive or critical feedback. This should not be cause for alarm — someone who only offers positive praise comes across as adulatory and artificial — but job seekers would be wise to dry-run reference calls to learn what a potential employer will be hearing. You may knock an interview out of the park, but a reference who offers counterpoints that you never address or acknowledge may ultimately sink your candidacy.